Deanna Shields

Fairmont State may be a relatively small school on a national scale, but one program at the institution has proven that it can compete at the absolute highest level.

This year, the criminal justice program from FSU went to Florida to compete in various competition and came home with eight awards.

“Every year we attend the National Criminal Justice Honor Society Conference, and this year it was in Orlando,” explained Marshal Sherry, graduate student in criminal justice from Fairmont State. “We go and compete every year.”

The West Virginia Humanities Council has awarded Fairmont State University and five other nonprofit organizations minigrants in support of educational programming.

FSU’s award for $1,500 will support “We the People: The United States Constitution and Slavery,” a two-day event featuring a symposium and historical portrayals. Admission will be free and open to the public.

Fairmont State University Criminal Justice students recently took top honors at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences/Alpha Phi Sigma National Conference in Philadelphia. Two FSU students also earned individual honors.

Nicole Allison of New Cumberland won first place in the Criminal Justice General Knowledge Exam and first place in the Special Topics/Victimology Exam. Each first came with a $500 prize.

Fairmont State University will celebrate the 226th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with activities on Tuesday, Sept. 17, hosted by the FSU College of Liberal Arts.

Sponsored by Alpha Phi Sigma as part of the Constitution Day Celebration, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to sign a copy of the Constitution between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the second floor Main Street area of the Falcon Center. Free patriotic lanyards and pocket copies of the Constitution will be given away.

While a college education is undeniably a valuable investment, paying for college can be challenging for most families. Fairmont State University, which delivers high quality academic programs at an affordable cost, continues to meet students' needs for financial aid and to provide a unique learning environment close to home in North Central West Virginia.

Fairmont State University will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with several events during the week of Sept. 17.

A panel discussion titled “Freedom of Speech in the 2012 Election,” sponsored by the Political Science Association, will take place in Hardway Hall Room 128 from noon to 12:50 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17.

“Sustainable Justice” was the theme of the 2012 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference, which took place in New York City from March 13-17. Thirteen students from Fairmont State University’s Alpha Phi Sigma group attended the conference. Alpha Phi Sigma is the national criminal justice honor society, which was recognized over 25 years ago by ACJS as the future of the organization and holds a conference in conjunction with ACJS every year. While Alpha Phi Sigma offers its own activities, the students are free to participate in any of the ACJS events.

While a college education is undeniably a valuable investment, paying for college can be challenging for most families. Fairmont State University, which delivers high quality academic programs at an affordable cost, continues to meet students' needs for financial aid and to provide a unique learning environment close to home in North Central West Virginia.